The BC Ministry of Education's Developing Independent learners: The Role of the School Library Resource Centre (1991) contains guidelines for school library resource centres in British Columbia.
"In order to understand the need for fostering independence and how this is connected with school library resource centre programs, it is critical to recognize societal changes and the impact of these changes on educational goals and student programs."
Ten School Library Myths:
a school library is more about books than computers
a school library has a great deal in common with the public library
a teacher-librarian buys books to make the library collection grow
someone who is good at reading stories makes the best teacher-librarian
"teacher-librarian" means the same as "librarian"
a teacher-librarian is supposed to teach library skills
a teacher-librarian only teaches in the library
a teacher-librarian plans and teaches a program in isolation
a teacher-librarian doesn't do marking, and never does report cards
the school library should always be a quiet place in order to foster learning
Goals for February - December 2009:
to improve and upgrade the range and quality of library resources, services, procedures and policies
increase level of communication between library & media centre and staff/student population
to transform the library into the learning hub and gathering place for our school
involve a diverse range of students in the development and ownership of the library and media centre
1. Survey staff and students on aspects of the library and media centre
2. Use survey results to work in partnership with library clerical staff to:
add new and innnovative teaching resources such as videos/DVD's, podcasts, curriculum guides, and artefact boxes
increase diversity of learning resources available for students (i.e./ podcasts, movies, software, learning games, sims, etc.)
make the library a welcoming place for staff and students by simplifying the rules for library use
increase diversity of programs and events that the library has to offer (writer in residence, online book club in coordination w English teachers)
create a reading and new internet activity space
re-arrange fiction section into genres, not by last name author/ alphabetical
3. Create a comprehensive library website that is student-centered and a valuable resource for teachers re: differentiated text, research guidelines and links, new media literacy tools
4. To re-brand the library as a "library and media centre" which better represents the diversity of activities and resources available to staff and students (add e-book reader and podcast capability to LMC computers)
5. Expand the opening hours of the library (from 8:15 - 2 pm) to 8-3:30 pm daily.
6. Set up a library blog and library email account to facilitate communication
How Will We Know We're Successful?**
Year-end survey
Increased traffic, loans of resources, & student participation in the library & media centre
Note anecdotal perceptions of the library and media centre
Completion of library website/blog/email. Use Google stats to monitor usage.
Rationale:
The BC Ministry of Education's Developing Independent learners: The Role of the School Library Resource Centre (1991) contains guidelines for school library resource centres in British Columbia."In order to understand the need for fostering independence and how this is connected with school library resource centre programs, it is critical to recognize societal changes and the impact of these changes on educational goals and student programs."
Ten School Library Myths:
Goals for February - December 2009:
Strategies:
1. Survey staff and students on aspects of the library and media centre2. Use survey results to work in partnership with library clerical staff to:
- add new and innnovative teaching resources such as videos/DVD's, podcasts, curriculum guides, and artefact boxes
- increase diversity of learning resources available for students (i.e./ podcasts, movies, software, learning games, sims, etc.)
- make the library a welcoming place for staff and students by simplifying the rules for library use
- increase diversity of programs and events that the library has to offer (writer in residence, online book club in coordination w English teachers)
- create a reading and new internet activity space
- re-arrange fiction section into genres, not by last name author/ alphabetical
3. Create a comprehensive library website that is student-centered and a valuable resource for teachers re: differentiated text, research guidelines and links, new media literacy tools4. To re-brand the library as a "library and media centre" which better represents the diversity of activities and resources available to staff and students (add e-book reader and podcast capability to LMC computers)
5. Expand the opening hours of the library (from 8:15 - 2 pm) to 8-3:30 pm daily.
6. Set up a library blog and library email account to facilitate communication
How Will We Know We're Successful?**